UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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William Blair Funds
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Amount previously paid:
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing Party:
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Date Filed:
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WILLIAM BLAIR FUNDS
William Blair Growth Fund
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William Blair International Growth Fund
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William Blair Large Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Institutional International Growth Fund
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William Blair Mid Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair International Small Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Emerging Markets Leaders Fund
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William Blair Small-Mid Cap Value Fund
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William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund
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William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Small Cap Value Fund
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William Blair Bond Fund
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William Blair Global Leaders Fund
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William Blair Income Fund
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William Blair International Leaders Fund
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William Blair Low Duration Fund
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William Blair International Developed Plus Fund
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William Blair Macro Allocation Fund
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William Blair Institutional International Developed Plus Fund
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150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MARCH 23, 2018
February 8, 2018
To the Shareholders:
You are invited to attend a special meeting of the shareholders of William Blair Funds (the Trust) to be held at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, 46th Floor Conference Room 4606A on Friday, March 23, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Central time, to consider and vote on the election of eight (8) nominees to the Board of Trustees of the Trust and to transact such other business, if any, as may properly come before the meeting.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has fixed the close of business on January 25, 2018 as the record date for determining the shareholders of the Trust entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held.
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By order of the Board
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Andrew T. Pfau
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Secretary
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In order to avoid delay and additional expense and to assure that your shares are represented, please vote as promptly as possible, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the meeting. You may vote by mail, telephone or over the Internet. To vote by mail, please mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card. No postage is required if mailed in the United States. To vote by telephone, please call the toll-free number located on your proxy card and follow the recorded instructions, using your proxy card as a guide. To vote over the Internet, go to the Internet address provided on your proxy card and follow the instructions, using your proxy card as a guide.
PROXY STATEMENT
WILLIAM BLAIR FUNDS
William Blair Growth Fund
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William Blair International Growth Fund
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William Blair Large Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Institutional International Growth Fund
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William Blair Mid Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair International Small Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Emerging Markets Leaders Fund
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William Blair Small-Mid Cap Value Fund
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William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund
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William Blair Small Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund
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William Blair Small Cap Value Fund
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William Blair Bond Fund
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William Blair Global Leaders Fund
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William Blair Income Fund
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William Blair International Leaders Fund
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William Blair Low Duration Fund
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William Blair International Developed Plus Fund
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William Blair Macro Allocation Fund
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William Blair Institutional International Developed Plus Fund
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(each a Fund and together the Funds)
150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
February 8, 2018
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on March 23, 2018:
The Proxy Materials are available at: www.proxyvote.com
GENERAL
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Trustees of William Blair Funds (the Board and each member thereof a Trustee) for voting at the special meeting of shareholders of William Blair Funds (the Trust) to be held on March 23, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Central time at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, 46th Floor Conference Room 4606A, and at any and all adjournments thereof (the Meeting). This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy are first being mailed to shareholders on or about February 15, 2018.
Shareholders are being asked to consider and vote on the election of eight (8) nominees to the Board (the Proposal) and to transact such other business, if any, as may properly come before the Meeting.
Shareholders Entitled to Vote
The Board has fixed the close of business on January 25, 2018 as the record date (the Record Date) for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. As of the Record Date, 844,299,248 shares of the Trust were issued and outstanding in the following series and classes:
Fund
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Class I
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Class N
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Institutional
Class |
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Growth Fund
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27,454,207
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3,335,895
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N/A
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Large Cap Growth Fund
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12,714,598
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2,033,704
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N/A
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Mid Cap Growth Fund
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6,080,685
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555,123
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N/A
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Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund
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66,438,100
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16,105,666
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N/A
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Small-Mid Cap Value Fund
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221,470
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20,558
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N/A
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Small Cap Growth Fund
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11,919,469
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5,303,766
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N/A
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Small Cap Value Fund
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30,959,750
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1,443,540
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N/A
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Global Leaders Fund
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4,073,432
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554,894
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9,880,073
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International Leaders Fund
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3,848,075
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614,263
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19,164,625
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International Developed Plus Fund
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6,985,732
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200,014
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N/A
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Institutional International Developed Plus Fund
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N/A
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N/A
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1,311,662
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International Growth Fund
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75,769,649
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24,658,540
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N/A
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Institutional International Growth Fund
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N/A
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N/A
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128,462,766
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International Small Cap Growth Fund
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20,491,442
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403,919
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16,349,755
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Emerging Markets Leaders Fund
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4,270,222
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269,970
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38,937,098
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Emerging Markets Growth Fund
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8,075,152
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660,887
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71,676,662
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Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund
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15,361,609
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808,915
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8,897,969
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Bond Fund
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37,576,019
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8,167,820
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8,904,667
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Income Fund
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5,528,619
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4,492,677
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N/A
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Low Duration Fund
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11,736,732
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213,248
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11,261,298
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Macro Allocation Fund
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65,593,496
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3,471,939
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41,038,877
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Required Vote
Shareholders of each Fund will vote together as a single class to elect nominees to the Board. A quorum of shareholders is required to take action at the Meeting. Holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of the Trust, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum of shareholders at the Meeting. If a quorum is present at the Meeting: (1) the affirmative vote of more than 50% of the shares of the Trust present and entitled to vote at the Meeting, either in person or by proxy, will be required to re-elect each of the current Trustees who have been nominated for re-election (each a Trustee Nominee and together the Trustee Nominees) to the Board; and (2) the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of the Trust entitled to vote at the Meeting will be required to elect each nominee who is not currently a Trustee (each a New Trustee and together the New Trustees).
With respect to the election of Trustee Nominees, shareholders as of the Record Date will have the option to vote FOR or AGAINST each Trustee Nominee, or may ABSTAIN from voting with respect to any Trustee Nominee. In order to be elected to the Board, each Trustee Nominee must receive a greater number of For votes than Against votes. With respect to the election of New Trustees, shareholders as of the Record Date will have the option to vote FOR each New Trustee or may WITHHOLD their vote with respect to any New Trustee. The two New Trustees (Nominees) who receive the greatest number of votes FOR their election will be elected to the Board.
Votes to Abstain or Withhold and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote, and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have the discretionary voting power on a particular matter) will be treated as shares present at the meeting for quorum and voting purposes. Votes to Abstain will have the effect of an Against vote and broker non-votes will have no effect for purposes of the re-election of the Trustee Nominees. Votes to Withhold and broker non-votes will have no effect for purposes of the election of the New Trustees. Additional information regarding each Trustee Nominee and New Trustee (together the Nominees) is provided below under Proposal-Election of Trustees to the Board.
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Each valid proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions provided on the proxy and as the persons named in the proxy determine on such other business as may come before the Meeting. If no instructions are given, the proxy will be voted FOR the election of each Nominee. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held. Shareholders may vote by filling out and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the postage paid envelope provided. Shareholders may also vote by telephone or over the Internet. Please see the instructions on your proxy card for telephone voting and Internet voting. Shareholders will have an opportunity to review their voting instructions and make any necessary changes before submitting their voting instructions and terminating their telephone call or Internet link. Shareholders who execute a proxy in any of the above manners may revoke their proxy at any time before their shares are voted, either by delivering to the Trust a written notice of revocation of their proxy, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. For directions on how to attend the Meeting in person, please call William Blair Funds toll-free at 1-800-742-7272 or contact your financial advisor.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board recommends that shareholders vote FOR the election of each Nominee named above.
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PROPOSAL
ELECTION OF TRUSTEES TO THE BOARD
(All Funds)
General
At the Meeting, shareholders of the Trust will be asked to elect eight individuals to constitute the Board of the Trust. The Board has nominated Vann A. Avedisian, Kathleen T. Barr, Stephanie G. Braming, Daniel N. Leib, Donald J. Reaves, Arthur J. Simon, Thomas J. Skelly and Steven R. Zenz as the individuals to be elected as Trustees of the Trust. Mr. Avedisian, Ms. Barr, Mr. Leib, Mr. Reaves, Mr. Skelly and Mr. Zenz are referred to herein as Trustee Nominees because they are currently members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. Messrs. Avedisian, Reaves and Skelly were most recently elected to the Board by shareholders in 2012. Ms. Barr, Mr. Leib and Mr. Zenz became Trustees in 2013, 2016 and 2018, respectively, following appointment by the Board of Trustees of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the Trusts Declaration of Trust and Section 16(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). Ms. Braming and Mr. Simon are referred to herein as New Trustees because they are not currently Trustees of the Trust, and upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees they are being presented for election. Phillip O. Peterson and Donald L. Seeley are currently members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust who are not standing for re-election to the Board due to their scheduled retirements.
The current members of the Board, Ms. Barr and Messrs. Avedisian, Leib, Peterson, Reaves, Seeley, Skelly and Zenz are not interested persons of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act (the Independent Trustees). Ms. Braming and Mr. Simon are considered interested persons of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act (and if elected to the Board would be considered Interested Trustees) because they are Partners of the Trusts investment adviser, William Blair Investment Management, LLC (WBIM or the Adviser), and principal underwriter, William Blair & Company, L.L.C. (WBC or the Distributor) (WBIM and WBC are collectively referred to as William Blair), and with respect to Ms. Braming also due to her position as an officer of the Trust.
Each Nominee elected to the Board by shareholders at the Meeting will serve as a Trustee of the Trust until the election and qualification of a successor or until death, retirement or resignation, or removal as provided for in the Trusts Declaration of Trust. It is the Boards policy that retirement for Independent Trustees occurs at the conclusion of the first regularly scheduled Board meeting of the Trusts fiscal year that occurs after the earlier of (a) the Trustees 72nd birthday or (b) the 15th anniversary of the date that the Independent Trustee was first elected or appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees. The Board may defer the scheduled retirement of a Trustee.
All Nominees listed below have consented to serve as Trustees of the Trust, if elected. In case any Nominee shall be unable or shall fail to act as a Trustee by virtue of an unexpected occurrence, persons named as proxies will vote in their discretion for such other nominee or nominees as the current Trustees may recommend. The following table presents certain information about the Nominees. Each Nominees year of birth is set forth after his or her name. The mailing address for each nominee is 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
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Nominees for Election as Trustees
Independent Trustees/Trustee Nominees
Name and Year
of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with Trust |
Term of
Office(1) and Length of Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee |
Vann A. Avedisian
1964(2) |
Trustee Nominee
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Since 2012
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Principal, Highgate Holdings (hotel investments) (since 2009); formerly, co-founder and Managing Director, Oxford Capital Partners Inc. (1994 to 2006)
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21
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Potbelly Corporation (2001 to 2015)
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Kathleen T. Barr,
1955 |
Trustee Nominee
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Since 2013
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Retired; formerly, President, Productive Capital Management, Inc. (registered investment adviser to public entities) and Owner, KT Barr Consulting, LLC (mutual fund and investment management consulting) (2010 to 2013); prior thereto, Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director of Allegiant Asset Management Company (merged with PNC Capital Advisors, LLC in 2009) (2004 to 2010); Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President of PNC Funds and PNC Advantage Funds (f/k/a Allegiant Funds) (2003 to 2010)
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21
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Council Member, Independent Directors Council; AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds (5 portfolios) (2012 to 2016)
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Daniel N. Leib,
1966(3) |
Trustee Nominee
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Since 2016
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Chief Executive Officer, Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. (since 2016); formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2011 to 2016) and Group Chief Financial Officer (2009 to 2011), R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company
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21
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None
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Name and Year
of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with Trust |
Term of
Office(1) and Length of Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee |
Donald J. Reaves,
1946(4) |
Trustee Nominee
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Since 2004
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Retired; formerly, Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University (2007 to 2014); prior thereto, Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer, University of Chicago (2002 to 2007)
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21
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American Student Assistance Corp. (guarantor of student loans); Amica Mutual Insurance Company
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Thomas J. Skelly,
1951 |
Trustee Nominee
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Since 2007
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Advisory Board Member for various U.S. companies (since 2005); formerly, Managing Partner of various divisions at Accenture (1994 to 2004)
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21
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Mutual Trust Financial Group (provider of insurance and investment products)
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Steven R. Zenz,
1954 |
Trustee Nominee
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Since 2018
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Consultant, Steven R. Zenz Consulting LLC (merger and acquisition transactions and SEC reporting and filings) (since 2011); formerly, Partner, KPMG LLP (1987-2010)(5)
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21
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Frankly Inc. (technology products and services for media industry) (since 2016); RedBrick Health Corporation (health care technology for employee wellness) (since 2015); Insignia Systems, Inc. (in-store advertising services for consumer packaged goods manufacturers) (since 2013)
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(1) | Each Trustee serves until the election and qualification of a successor, or until death, resignation or retirement, or removal as provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. Retirement for Independent Trustees occurs no later than at the conclusion of the first regularly scheduled Board meeting of the calendar year that occurs after the earlier of (a) the Independent Trustee’s 72nd birthday or (b) the 15th anniversary of the date that the Independent Trustee became a member of the Board of Trustees. |
(2) | Mr. Avedisian served as a member of the Board of Directors of Potbelly Corporation (Potbelly) from September 2001 to 2015. In October 2013, Potbelly completed an underwritten initial public offering of its common stock (the Offering). William Blair served as a member of the underwriting syndicate. At the time of the Offering, Mr. Avedisian, through entities he owns or controls, indirectly beneficially owned 1,607,448 shares of Potbelly common stock and warrants to purchase 241,704 shares of common stock representing approximately 8.9% of the shares before the Offering. Mr. Avedisian disclaimed beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Potbelly sold 8,474,869 shares and certain stockholders, including two entities affiliated with William Blair, sold 150,131 shares in the Offering at a price to the public of $14.00 per share. Neither Mr. Avedisian nor the entities he owned or controlled was a selling stockholder in the Offering. A portion of the net proceeds received by Potbelly from the Offering was used to pay a previously declared cash dividend, in an aggregate amount of approximately $49.9 million, on Potbelly common and preferred shares outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Offering, which included the outstanding shares indirectly beneficially owned by Mr. Avedisian, William Blair and two entities affiliated with William Blair. |
(3) | The Funds and William Blair use Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. (DFS), formerly a company of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD), for financial printing and other services. DFS was formed as a spin-off from RRD in October 2016 and is a public company. The Funds and William Blair paid DFS approximately $11,000 for the period from spin-off through December 31, 2016 and $172,000 in 2017 for the services provided. DFS’s revenue was $221 million for the period from spin-off through December 31, 2016 and is expected to be approximately $1 billion in 2017. Mr. Leib, as the Chief Executive Officer of DFS, is not directly involved in any of the services provided to the Funds or William Blair and his compensation is not materially affected by the fees DFS receives from the Funds and William Blair. The Funds and William Blair paid RRD approximately $129,000 and $919 in 2016 through the date |
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of the DFS spin-off and 2017, respectively, for the services provided. RRDs revenue was over $8 billion in 2016 for the period from January 1 to September 30, 2016 and is expected to be over $6.5 billion in 2017. Mr. Leib, as former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of RRD, was not directly involved in any of the services provided to the Funds or William Blair and his compensation was not materially affected by the fees RRD received from the Funds and William Blair.
(4) | In his former role as chief financial officer at the University of Chicago, Mr. Reaves had a working relationship with E. David Coolidge III, Vice Chairman of the Adviser who is also a trustee of the University of Chicago. |
(5) | The Funds engage KPMG to provide foreign tax services in Taiwan. KPMG does not provide audit or audit-related services to the Funds. Mr. Zenz is a former partner of KPMG and receives pension/retirement funds from KPMG. |
Interested Trustees/New Trustees/Nominees
Name and Year
of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with Trust |
Length of
Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Trust Complex Overseen by Nominee |
Other
Directorships Held by Nominee |
Stephanie G. Braming,
1970(1) |
President; New Trustee/
Nominee |
N/A
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Global Head of Investment Management since 2017, portfolio manager (2014 – 2017) and Partner, William Blair(2)
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21
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—
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Arthur J. Simon,
1954(1) |
New Trustee/
Nominee |
N/A
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General Counsel and Partner, William Blair(2)
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21
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—
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(1) | Ms. Braming and Mr. Simon are interested persons of the Trust because they are Partners of William Blair, and with respect to Ms. Braming also due to her position as an officer of the Trust. |
(2) | William Blair Investment Management, LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. are collectively referred to in this section as William Blair, each of which is a wholly owned subsidiary of WBC Holdings, L.P., which is wholly owned by certain William Blair employees (employee owners are referred to as partners). |
Board of Trustees
The primary responsibility of the Board of Trustees is to represent the interests of the shareholders of the Trust and to provide oversight of the management of the Trust. The slate of Nominees proposed for election at the Meeting is comprised of two individuals (25% of the proposed Board) who would be Interested Trustees and six individuals (75% of the proposed Board) who would be Independent Trustees. SEC rules currently require a majority of the board members of a fund to be independent if the fund takes advantage of certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act.
The Trusts day to day operations are managed by the Adviser and other service providers who have been approved by the Board. In light of the general characteristics of the Trust, including the number of Funds, the nature of the Funds investments and the historical relationship between the Trust and the Adviser, the Board has developed a governance structure that fosters the type of meaningful dialogue between the Adviser and the Independent Trustees that results in an appropriate balance of cooperation with and oversight of the Adviser. It is expected that, if elected to the Board, Ms. Braming will be appointed by the Board to act as Chair of the Board, and if she were, the Chair of the Board would be an interested person of the Trust and also serve as the Trusts Principal Executive Officer. The Independent Trustees have appointed Mr. Reaves to serve as Lead Independent Trustee.
The Lead Independent Trustee is responsible for: (i) coordinating activities of the Independent Trustees; (ii) working with the Adviser and counsel to determine the agenda for Board meetings; (iii) serving as the principal contact for and facilitating communication between the Independent Trustees and the Trusts service providers, particularly the Adviser; and (iv) any other duties that the Independent Trustees may delegate to the Lead Independent Trustee.
Generally, the Board acts by majority vote of all the Trustees, including a majority vote of the Independent Trustees if required by applicable law. The Board has established three standing committees, the Audit
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Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Compliance Committee, each comprised entirely of the Independent Trustees, to which it has delegated certain responsibilities as described below. Each of the three standing Committees reports its activities to the Board on a regular basis. The Board and its committees meet regularly throughout the year to oversee the Trusts activities, including reviewing at one or more meetings, the Trusts arrangements with the Adviser and other service providers, the operation of the Trusts investment policies, compliance and regulatory matters and the Funds investment performance. The Independent Trustees are represented by independent legal counsel at Board and committee meetings. As part of its general oversight of the Trust, the Board is involved in the risk oversight of the Trust directly and through its committees. The Board reviews the investment performance of the Funds with the Adviser, including meeting regularly with the portfolio managers, at each of its regularly scheduled quarterly Board meetings. In addition, the Board must approve any material changes to a Funds investment policies or restrictions. With respect to compliance matters, the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer provides to the Board the annual compliance report required by Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. With respect to valuation, the Board has established a Valuation Committee which, in addition to the Audit Committee, oversee a pricing committee comprised of Trust officers and Adviser personnel. The Board has approved Valuation Procedures, including fair valuation procedures, applicable to valuing the Funds securities, which the Board reviews at least annually.
The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the Trusts accounting policies, financial reporting and internal control systems, as well as the work of the independent auditors. On a quarterly basis, the Audit Committee also reviews a report from the Chief Compliance Officer and information from the Advisers pricing committee on valuation and pricing matters.
The Compliance Committee is primarily responsible for overseeing the administration and operation of the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers and assisting the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee regulatory and compliance matters involving the Trust. The Compliance Committee receives a quarterly report from the Chief Compliance Officer regarding the operation of the Trusts compliance policies and procedures, including any material compliance issues that arose during the quarter and meets in executive session with the Chief Compliance Officer at its quarterly meetings.
The Nominating and Governance Committees primary functions are to select individuals who would qualify to serve as independent trustees, nominate independent trustees for Board membership, recommend committee chairs, review committee membership and oversee the administration of the William Blair Funds Board of Trustees Governance Guidelines and Procedures.
During 2017, the Board met five times. Each Trustee Nominee (except Mr. Zenz who was appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2018) attended at least 75% of the respective meetings of the Board and the Committees (if a member thereof) held during 2017.
The members of the Audit Committee, all of whom are Independent Trustees, include Messrs. Leib (Chairman), Avedisian, Reaves, Skelly and Zenz and Ms. Barr. The Audit Committee held four meetings in 2017.
The members of the Compliance Committee, all of whom are Independent Trustees, include Ms. Barr (Chairman) and Messrs. Avedisian, Leib, Reaves, Skelly and Zenz. The Compliance Committee held four meetings in 2017.
The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee, all of whom are Independent Trustees, include Messrs. Skelly (Chairman), Avedisian, Leib, Reaves and Zenz and Ms. Barr. The Nominating and Governance Committee held four meetings in 2017. A copy of the Nominating and Governance Committee Charter is attached as Appendix A.
Pursuant to the Trusts Governance Guidelines and Procedures, the Nominating and Governance Committee will independently evaluate Independent Trustee candidates for Board membership. In evaluating Independent Trustee candidates, the Nominating and Governance Committee will take into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including the professional experience, education and skills of the candidate and the overall diversity of the Boards composition. With regard to candidates who would be interested persons of the Trust because of their role with the Adviser or Distributor, the Board gives reasonable deference to William Blairs identification of candidates. The Nominating and Governance Committee believes the Board generally benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy in this regard. Suggestions for Independent
8
Trustee candidates may be submitted to the Nominating and Governance Committee by other Trustees, by shareholders or by the Adviser. Shareholders may submit suggestions for Independent Trustee candidates by sending a resume of the candidate to the William Blair Funds, Secretary of the Trust, 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, for the attention of the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. There is no difference in the manner in which the Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates candidates recommended by shareholders versus candidates recommended by other parties. Prior to being appointed or elected to the Board, each Trustee Nominee was recommended to the Board as a candidate for appointment or election by the Nominating and Governance Committee. Ms. Braming and Mr. Simon, neither of whom are currently a Trustee of the Trust and each of whom are interested persons of the Trust, were recommended to the Board by the Adviser.
The members of the Valuation Committee include an interested trustee, of which there are currently none and Mr. Avedisian (Independent Trustee). The other Independent Trustees are designated as alternate members in the event that Mr. Avedisian is unavailable. The Valuation Committee was consulted eight times in 2017.
The Board has adopted a policy that absent personal circumstances that do not permit a Trustee to attend, Trustees are expected to be present at shareholders meetings in order to facilitate communications with shareholders. Under circumstances where no Trustee is available to attend a shareholders meeting, the Board may designate a senior officer of the Trust to be present and to report back to the Board.
Qualifications of Nominees
The following is a brief discussion of the experiences and qualifications that led to the conclusion that each Nominee should serve as a Trustee of the Trust. Generally, the professional, business and educational experience of each Nominee was considered in determining his or her qualifications to serve as a Trustee. Each Nominees previous record of service, as applicable, as a Trustee or officer of the Trust was considered and served to demonstrate his or her understanding of and commitment to the Trust. With respect to each Nominee, the Board considered, among other factors, the following experiences and qualifications:
The Board considered Vann A. Avedisians professional experience serving in various executive positions with companies in the real estate industry, including co-founding and serving as a Managing Director of Oxford Capital Partners, Inc. and, currently, directing the capital market activities of Highgate Holdings, where he is a Principal. The Board considered the executive, financial, operations and risk management experience that Mr. Avedisian gained over the course of his career. The Board also considered Mr. Avedisians experience serving as a director of various private and public organizations, including service as the compensation committee chair of a public company.
The Board considered Kathleen T. Barrs professional experience serving in various executive positions in the financial services industry, including serving as former owner of a registered investment adviser, Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director of Allegiant Asset Management Company (merged with PNC Capital Advisors, LLC in 2009) and as Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President of PNC Funds and PNC Advantage Funds (f/k/a Allegiant Funds). The Board considered the executive, compliance, investment product, administrative, operations and risk management experience that Ms. Barr gained over the course of her career. The Board also considered Ms. Barrs experience serving on the board of another mutual fund group and serving as a member of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council.
The Board considered Stephanie G. Bramings professional experience in the financial services industry, including as a Partner of William Blair Investment Management, LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. where she serves on the executive committee and as the global head of William Blairs Investment Management division. The Board considered the executive, investment and financial experience that Ms. Braming gained over the course of her career. The Board also considered that because of Ms. Bramings positions with William Blair, she is involved in the day-to-day management of the Adviser and the Trust.
The Board considered Daniel N. Leibs professional experience serving in various executive positions with companies in the printing, advertising and marketing and retail industries, including currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc., and prior thereto serving in roles as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company. The Board considered the executive, financial (including treasury and pension oversight), operations and risk management experience that Mr. Leib gained over the course of his career.
9
The Board considered Donald J. Reaves professional experience serving in various executive positions at major U.S. universities, including Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Chicago and Brown University. The Board considered the executive, financial, audit, investment and risk management experience that Mr. Reaves gained over the course of his career. The Board also considered Mr. Reaves experience serving as a director or trustee of various public and private organizations, including serving in multiple leadership positions on the boards of such organizations.
The Board considered Arthur J. Simons professional training and experience as an attorney and his executive experience gained as a Partner of William Blair Investment Management, LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., including serving on William Blairs executive committee and as General Counsel of William Blair. The Board considered the legal and executive experience that Mr. Simon gained over the course of his career. The Board considered that because of Mr. Simons position with William Blair, he is involved in the day-to-day management of the Adviser and the Distributor.
The Board considered Thomas J. Skellys professional experience serving in various executive positions at Accenture, including his experience as the managing partner of Accentures U.S. operations and as the chairman of the Accenture Pension Fund. The Board considered the executive, operations, information technology, financial and investment experience that Mr. Skelly gained over the course of his career. The Board also considered Mr. Skellys experience serving as a director or trustee of a public company and various private organizations. Further, the Board considered Mr. Skellys service on various advisory boards for private and public companies.
The Board considered Steven R. Zenzs professional training and experience as a certified public accountant and auditor, including his experience as a partner of KPMG LLP providing advice to clients in a variety of industries and serving as Partner in Charge of KPMGs Minneapolis-based Investment Banking Practice as well as various other leadership roles within KPMG LLP. The Board considered the executive, financial and audit experience that Mr. Zenz gained over the course of his career. Further, the Board considered Mr. Zenzs experience serving on the boards of other public and private companies and organizations.
References to the experience and qualifications of the Nominees are pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, do not constitute holding out of any Nominee or the Board as having any special expertise and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.
Shareholder Communication with the Trustees
To facilitate shareholder communications with the Board (or with any individual Trustee), shareholders are instructed to forward correspondence (including suggestions for Trustee candidates) by U.S. mail or other courier service to the William Blair Funds, Secretary of the Trust, 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Correspondence addressed to the Board will be forwarded to the Chairperson of the Nominating and Governance Committee and correspondence addressed to a specific Trustee will be forwarded to that Trustee.
Compensation of Trustees
Independent Trustees receive an annual retainer plus Board meeting fees (which vary depending on whether attendance is in person or by telephone). Independent Trustees also receive compensation for attendance at committee meetings (except for the Valuation Committee for which the Trustees receive no additional compensation). The Lead Independent Trustee and the Chairmen of the Audit Committee, Compliance Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee each receive an additional retainer for serving in such positions. Compensation for Independent Trustees is reviewed by the Nominating and Governance Committee annually and changes are subject to approval by the Board. The Independent Trustees receive one-half of the annual retainer in cash and the other half is invested in Fund shares as directed by the Independent Trustees. The Interested Trustees and officers affiliated with the Adviser receive no compensation from the Trust.
10
The following table sets forth the compensation earned by each Independent Trustee/Nominee from the Funds and the Trust for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017:
Independent Trustee/Nominee
|
Aggregate
Compensation from the Funds |
Pension or
Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses |
Estimated
Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Total
Compensation from the Trust (including the Funds)(1) |
||||||||
Vann A. Avedisian
|
$
|
136,000
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
136,000
|
|
Kathleen T. Barr
|
$
|
142,000
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
142,000
|
|
Daniel N. Leib
|
$
|
138,000
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
138,000
|
|
Donald J. Reaves
|
$
|
136,000
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
136,000
|
|
Thomas J. Skelly
|
$
|
142,000
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
142,000
|
|
Steven R. Zenz(2)
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Total(3)
|
$
|
999,000
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
999,000
|
|
(1) | As of December 31, 2017, the Trust was offering 21 separate series. |
(2) | Steven R. Zenz was appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2018. |
(3) | Includes $305,000 in compensation paid in 2017 to two retiring Independent Trustees. |
Trustee, Nominee and Officer Fund Ownership
Appendix B hereto sets forth information regarding the Trustees, Nominees and Trust officers ownership of the Funds. Appendix B also lists all shareholders known to the Trust to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of any Fund. Fund ownership information set forth in Appendix B is provided as of December 31, 2017.
Trust Officers
The following table presents information about the executive officers of the Trust. Each individuals year of birth is set forth after his or her name. The Trusts officers, except the Chief Compliance Officer, are elected annually by the Board. The Trusts Chief Compliance Officer is designated by the Board and may only be removed by action of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Length of Time Served for all officers indicates the year the individual first became an officer of the Trust. The mailing address for each officer is 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Name and Year of
Birth |
Position(s) Held
with Trust |
Length of
Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Michael P. Balkin,
1959 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2008
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Stephanie G. Braming 1970
|
President, and prior thereto Senior Vice President
|
President since 2018, and Senior Vice President 2014-2018
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Thomas Clarke,
1968 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2011
|
Partner, William Blair (since 2014); formerly, Associate, William Blair (2011-2014)
|
Daniel Crowe
1972 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2016
|
Partner, William Blair (since 2015); formerly, Associate William Blair
|
11
Name and Year of
Birth |
Position(s) Held
with Trust |
Length of
Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Simon Fennell
1969 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2013
|
Partner, William Blair (since 2013); formerly, Associate, William Blair (2011-2013)
|
Andrew G. Flynn
1961 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2013
|
Partner, William Blair
|
David C. Fording,
1967 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2006
|
Partner, William Blair
|
James S. Golan,
1961 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2005
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Michael A. Jancosek,
1959 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2000
|
Partner, William Blair
|
John F. Jostrand,
1954 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 1999
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Chad M. Kilmer,
1975 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2006
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Robert C. Lanphier, IV,
1956 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2003
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Mark T. Leslie,
1967 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2005
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Kenneth J. McAtamney,
1966 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2008
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Todd M. McClone,
1968 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2005
|
Partner, William Blair
|
David Merjan,
1960 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2008
|
Partner, William Blair
|
David S. Mitchell,
1960 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2003
|
Partner, William Blair
|
John C. Murphy
1969 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2014
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Casey K. Preyss
1976 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2015
|
Partner, William Blair
|
David P. Ricci,
1958 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2006
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Ward D. Sexton
1974 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2016
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Brian D. Singer,
1960 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2011
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Jeffrey A. Urbina,
1955 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 1998
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Christopher T. Vincent,
1956 |
Senior Vice President
|
Since 2002
|
Partner, William Blair
|
Paul J. Sularz,
1967 |
Vice President
|
Since 2009
|
Associate, William Blair (2006-2012 and since 2014); Partner, William Blair (2012-2014)
|
Colette M. Garavalia,
1961 |
Treasurer
|
Since 2000
|
Associate, William Blair
|
Andrew T. Pfau,
1970 |
Secretary
|
Since 2009
|
Associate, William Blair
|
12
Name and Year of
Birth |
Position(s) Held
with Trust |
Length of
Time Served |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
John Raczek,
1970 |
Assistant Treasurer
|
Since 2010
|
Associate, William Blair
|
Walter R. Randall, Jr.,
1960 |
Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary
|
Since 2009
|
Associate, William Blair
|
Robert J. Toner
1967 |
Assistant Secretary
|
Since 2016
|
Associate, William Blair (since 2015); formerly, Managing Director and Counsel, Wellington Management & Company LLP (2007-2015)
|
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board, including the Independent Trustees, has selected Ernst & Young LLP (E&Y) to act as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books and records of the Trust for the current fiscal year. E&Y has served the Trust in this capacity since the Trust was organized. A representative of E&Y is expected to be present, in person or by telephone, at the Meeting and, if present, will be available to respond to any appropriate questions raised at the Meeting and may make a statement.
In connection with the audit of the 2017 financial statements, the Trust entered into an engagement letter with E&Y. The terms of the engagement letter agreed to by the Audit Committee include provisions in which the parties agree, subject to the full terms and conditions as set forth in the engagement letter, that (i) certain matters arising out of the engagement letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of New York, and (ii) any dispute or claim arising out of or relating to services under the engagement letter shall be resolved by mediation or arbitration.
Audit Fees
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y billed the Trust $684,300 and $663,600, respectively, for professional services rendered for the audit of the Trusts annual financial statements or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.
Audit-Related Fees
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y billed the Trust $0 and $0, respectively, for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Trusts financial statements and that are not reported above. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y provided no audit-related services to the Adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser providing ongoing services to the Funds (control affiliate) that were for engagements directly related to the Trusts operations and financial reporting.
Tax Fees
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y billed the Trust $205,850 and $239,900, respectively, for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. Such services consisted of preparation of tax returns, year-end distribution review, qualifying dividend income analysis and review of year-end tax reporting. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y did not bill the Adviser or any of its control affiliates for any tax services that were for engagements directly related to the Trusts operations and financial reporting.
All Other Fees
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y did not bill the Trust for products and services other than the services reported above. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y provided no other services to the Adviser or any of its control affiliates that were for engagements directly related to the Trusts operations and financial reporting.
13
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Pursuant to the Trusts Audit Committee Charter (the Charter), the Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving any engagement of the independent auditor to provide non-prohibited services to the Funds, including the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent auditor. Pursuant to the Charter, the Audit Committee is also responsible for pre-approving any engagement of the independent auditor, including the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent auditor, to provide non-audit services to the Adviser or any of its control affiliates, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of a Fund. The Chair of the Audit Committee may grant the pre-approval referenced above for non-prohibited and non-audit services. All such delegated pre-approvals shall be presented to the Audit Committee no later than the next Audit Committee meeting. None of the Audit-Related and Tax Services billed by E&Y for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 discussed above were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to a waiver of these Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.
Non-Audit Fees
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, E&Y billed the Trust $205,850 and $239,900, respectively, in non-audit fees (tax services). For the same periods, E&Y billed the Adviser and its control affiliates $0 and $0, respectively, in non-audit fees.
MISCELLANEOUS
Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter and Administrator
William Blair Investment Management, LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., each located at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, are respectively the Trusts investment adviser and principal underwriter and distributor. Pursuant to a management agreement, the Adviser acts as each Funds adviser, manages its investments, administers its business affairs, furnishes office facilities and equipment, provides clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services, provides shareholder and information services and permits any of its partners or employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of the Fund if elected to such positions. The Distributor acts as agent of the Trust in the sale of Fund shares. William Blair was founded over 80 years ago by William McCormick Blair. Today, the firm has over 1,400 employees including approximately 185 partners.
The Adviser oversees the assets of the Trust, along with corporate pension plans, endowments and foundations and individual accounts. The Adviser currently manages over $74 billion in equities, fixed-income securities, derivatives and cash equivalents.
The Adviser firmly believes that clients are best served when portfolio managers are encouraged to draw on their experience and develop new ideas. This philosophy has helped build a hard-working, results-oriented team of 46 portfolio managers, supported by a team of analysts. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
State Street Bank and Trust Company, located at One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts, provides custodian, valuation and certain administrative services to the Trust pursuant to various agreements.
Proxy Solicitation and Expenses
In addition to solicitations by mail, solicitations also may be made by telephone, through the Internet or in person by officers of the Trust or employees of the Adviser and by certain financial services firms and their representatives, who will receive no extra compensation for their services. Broadridge Financial Solutions (Broadridge) has been engaged to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Trust at an estimated cost of $288,000, plus reimbursement for reasonable expenses. However, the exact cost will depend on the amount and types of services rendered. The cost of proxy solicitation will be borne by the Funds.
Shareholders may vote by mail, telephone or over the Internet. Shareholders who vote by telephone or over the Internet will have an opportunity to review their voting instructions and make any necessary changes before submitting their voting instructions and terminating their telephone call or Internet link. If a shareholder wishes to participate in the Meeting, but does not wish to give a proxy by telephone or over the Internet, the shareholder
14
may still submit the proxy card originally sent with this proxy statement or attend the Meeting in person. Should shareholders require additional information regarding the proxy or a replacement proxy card, they may contact William Blair Funds toll-free at 1-800-742-7272 or contact their financial advisor.
Adjournment
If a quorum is not present, the Meeting may be adjourned to a later date by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present. In the event that a quorum is present at the Meeting, but sufficient votes to elect a Nominee are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present, in person or by proxy, at the Meeting. It is anticipated that the persons named as proxies would vote in favor of any adjournment. The Meeting may be adjourned without further notice to shareholders, but the Meeting may not be adjourned for more than six months beyond the originally scheduled meeting date.
Proposals of Shareholders
The Trust does not generally hold annual shareholders meetings, but will hold special meetings as required or deemed desirable. Because the Trust does not hold regular shareholders meetings, the anticipated date of the next shareholders meeting (if any) cannot be provided. Shareholders wishing to submit proposals for inclusion in a proxy statement for a subsequent shareholders meeting of the Trust, including submitting nominees for election as Trustees, should send their written proposals to the William Blair Funds, Secretary of the Trust at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Proposals must be received in a reasonable time before the Trust begins to print and mail the proxy materials for a shareholders meeting. The timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion.
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting
The Board is not aware of any matters that will be presented for action at the Meeting other than the Proposal set forth herein. Should any other matters requiring a vote of shareholders arise, the proxy in the accompanying form will confer upon the person or persons entitled to vote the shares represented by such proxy the discretionary authority to vote the shares with respect to any such other matters.
Householding Information
In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce Fund expenses, the Trust generally sends a single copy of any shareholder report and prospectus to each household unless instructed otherwise by a shareholder within the household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, or if you wish to receive a single copy for your household, please call 1-800-742-7272 or submit your request in writing to the William Blair Funds at 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
15
A copy of the Trusts most recent annual and semi-annual report is available without charge upon request by writing to the William Blair Funds, 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling 1-800-742-7272. Reports are also available on the William Blair Funds website at www.williamblairfunds.com or at the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
Please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card(s) (or take advantage of available telephonic or Internet voting procedures; see the proxy card for instructions) promptly. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.
|
By order of the Board of Trustees
|
|
![]() |
|
Andrew T. Pfau
Secretary |
16
APPENDIX A
WILLIAM BLAIR FUNDS
NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. | PURPOSE |
The Nominating and Governance Committee is a committee of the Board of Trustees (the Board) of the William Blair Funds (the Trust) established to assist the Board in fulfilling certain of its responsibilities. The Nominating and Governance Committees primary functions are to select individuals who would qualify to serve as independent trustees, nominate trustees for membership, recommend committee chairs, review committee membership and oversee the administration of the William Blair Funds Board of Trustees Governance Guidelines and Procedures.
II. | COMPOSITION |
The Nominating and Governance Committee shall be comprised of three or more board members as appointed by the Board, each of whom shall be an independent trustee and free from any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee. For purposes of the Nominating and Governance Committee, a trustee is independent if he or she is not an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be elected by the Board annually and serve until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified or until their retirement, resignation, death or the date upon which they no longer qualify as an independent trustee. The Chair shall be elected by the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee by majority vote.
III. | MEETINGS |
The Nominating and Governance Committee shall meet at least two times annually, and more frequently as circumstances dictate. Special meetings (including telephone meetings) may be called by the Chair or a majority of the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee upon reasonable notice to the other members of the Nominating and Governance Committee.
The Nominating and Governance Committee shall maintain minutes of committee meetings, report its significant activities to the Board, and make such recommendations to the Board as the Nominating and Governance Committee may deem necessary or appropriate.
IV. | RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES |
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties the Nominating and Governance Committee shall:
A. | Board Nominations |
1. | Select individuals to serve as independent trustees of the Trust. The principal criterion for selection of candidates to serve as independent trustees is their ability to carry out the responsibilities of the Board. |
2. | Consider the composition of the Board in advance of anticipated Board vacancies, and in seeking to fill vacancies, to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skill sets from those already on the Board. |
3. | Nominate candidates for trustee to the Board or shareholders, as appropriate. |
B. | Committee Nominations and Functions |
1. | Identify and recommend trustees for membership on the committees of the Board, and review committee composition at least annually. |
A-1
2. | With respect to the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Compliance Committee of the Board, identify and recommend to each committee, members of the committee for appointment as committee chair where appropriate. |
3. | Review as necessary the responsibilities of any committees of the Board, whether there is a continuing need for each committee, whether there is a need for additional committees of the Board, and whether committees should be combined or reorganized. |
C. | Other Governance Powers and Responsibilities |
1. | Review this Charter annually, and recommend changes, if any, to the Board. |
2. | Review the William Blair Funds Board of Trustees Governance Guidelines and Procedures annually, and recommend changes, if any, to the Board. |
3. | If the Chairman of the Board is an interested person of the Trust, or if the Nominating and Governance Committee otherwise determines that it is desirable, appoint a trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust to serve as Lead Independent Trustee. |
4. | Determine the responsibilities and duties of any independent trustee appointed as Lead Independent Trustee. |
5. | Periodically review independent trustee compensation and recommend any appropriate changes to the Board. |
6. | Determine the process for annual self-evaluation of Board performance. |
7. | Review directors and officers/errors and omissions insurance coverage, and other forms of insurance or bonding covering trustees of the Trust in their capacity as such, for adequacy. |
8. | Oversee the development of a program for the orientation of new independent trustees. |
9. | Investigate any other matter brought to its attention within the scope of its duties. |
10. | Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Trust's Declaration of Trust, by-laws and governing law, as the Nominating and Governance Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate. |
11. | The Nominating and Governance Committee shall have the power to retain outside counsel or other experts, at the expense of the Trust, to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities if, in its judgment, that is appropriate. |
Adopted: | October 24, 2000 |
Amended: | October 26, 2004, April 19, 2005, October 25, 2005, October 25, 2011, October 23, 2012, February 20, 2013, October 27, 2015 and October 31, 2017 |
A-2
APPENDIX B
FUND OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth, for each current Independent Trustee and Interested Trustee Nominee, the dollar range of shares owned in each Fund as of December 31, 2017, as well as the aggregate dollar range of shares owned in the Trust as of the same date.
|
Name of Nominee and Dollar Range of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned
|
|||||||
|
Interested Trustee
Nominees |
Independent Trustees
|
||||||
Name of Fund
|
Stephanie G.
Braming |
Arthur J.
Simon |
Vann A.
Avedisian |
Kathleen T.
Barr |
Daniel N.
Leib |
Donald J.
Reaves |
Thomas J.
Skelly |
Steven R.
Zenz(1) |
Growth Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Large Cap Growth Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$50,001-
$100,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Mid Cap Growth Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund
|
$50,001-
100,000 |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
—
|
Small-Mid Cap Value Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Small Cap Growth Fund
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
$1-
$10,000 |
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Small Cap Value Fund
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
Over
$100,000 |
—
|
Global Leaders Fund
|
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
—
|
International Leaders Fund
|
$50,001-
100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
International Developed Plus Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
—
|
Institutional International Developed Plus Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
International Growth Fund
|
Over
$100,000 |
None
|
$50,001-
100,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
$50,001-
$100,000 |
—
|
Institutional International Growth Fund
|
Over
$100,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
International Small Cap Growth Fund
|
Over
$100,000 |
$50,001-
100,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Emerging Markets Leaders Fund
|
$1-
$10,000 |
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
—
|
Emerging Markets Growth Fund
|
Over
$100,000 |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund
|
Over
$100,000 |
None
|
Over
$100,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
$50,001-
$100,000 |
—
|
Bond Fund
|
$50,001-
100,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over
$100,000 |
None
|
—
|
Income Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
Over
$100,000 |
None
|
—
|
Low Duration Fund
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
None
|
—
|
Macro Allocation Fund
|
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
$10,001-
$50,000 |
None
|
None
|
Over
$100,000 |
—
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Trust Shares Owned
|
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
—
|
(1) | Steven R. Zenz was appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2018. |
B-1
The following table sets forth for each Interested Trustee Nominee and current Independent Trustee, and the current Trustees(1) and officers as a group, the number of shares of each Fund and share class beneficially owned as of December 31, 2017.
|
Number of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Fund
and Share Class |
Interested
Trustee Nominees |
Current Independent Trustees
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stephanie
G. Braming |
Arthur
J. Simon |
Vann
A. Avedisian |
Kathleen
T. Barr |
Daniel
N. Leib |
Phillip
O. Peterson |
Donald
J. Reaves |
Donald
L. Seeley |
Thomas
J. Skelly |
Steven
R. Zenz |
Current
Trustees’ and Officers Total Number of Shares |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
469,318
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,063
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,657
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,721
|
|
Large Cap Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
821
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
308,211
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,743
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,743
|
|
Mid Cap Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
262,319
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,053
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,053
|
|
Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
3,294
|
|
|
624
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
674
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
22,852
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
130,327
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
784
|
|
|
1,499
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,487
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,770
|
|
Small-Mid Cap Value Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
462
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
48,225
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,057
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,057
|
|
Small Cap Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
699
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
411
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
234,136
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
130
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
873
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,422
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,295
|
|
Small Cap Value Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
1,974
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
504
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
10,081
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
165,710
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,581
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,663
|
|
Global Leaders Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
45,455
|
|
|
13,664
|
|
|
23,339
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
422,301
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,165
|
|
|
2,435
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
22,765
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
27,364
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
International Leaders Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
5,113
|
|
|
8,039
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
116,696
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,035
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
893
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,928
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
International Developed Plus Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
708
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
446,022
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,940
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,343
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,283
|
|
Institutional International Developed Plus Fund:
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
International Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
41,695
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,686
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,936
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,621
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
131,994
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,778
|
|
Institutional International Growth Fund:
|
|
9,281
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
61,915
|
|
International Small Cap Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
83,436
|
|
|
3,257
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
157,135
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,233
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,233
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Emerging Markets Leaders Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
75
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
673
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,689
|
|
|
2,304
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
130,655
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,166
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,166
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
58,069
|
|
B-2
|
Number of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Fund
and Share Class |
Interested
Trustee Nominees |
Current Independent Trustees
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stephanie
G. Braming |
Arthur
J. Simon |
Vann
A. Avedisian |
Kathleen
T. Barr |
Daniel
N. Leib |
Phillip
O. Peterson |
Donald
J. Reaves |
Donald
L. Seeley |
Thomas
J. Skelly |
Steven
R. Zenz |
Current
Trustees’ and Officers Total Number of Shares |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Emerging Markets Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
23,283
|
|
|
1,836
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,415
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
96,290
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,676
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3,523
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
7,722
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
9,881
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
4,407
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
111,855
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
6,300
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
6,300
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Bond Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
52,367
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
30,145
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
35,058
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
8,317
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
31,924
|
|
Income Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,642
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,642
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
16,878
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
22.733
|
|
Low Duration Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,606
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,841
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
2,208
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
7,925
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
12,772
|
|
Macro Allocation Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
—
|
|
|
965
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
104,175
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
199,362
|
|
Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,816
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
8,780
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
11,663
|
|
Institutional Class
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
(1) | Richard W. Smirl, who was a Trustee as of December 31, 2017, resigned his position as Trustee and officer of the Trust effective January 2, 2018 and therefore is not included in this table. |
(2) | Steven R. Zenz was appointed to the Board effective January 1, 2018. |
As of December 31, 2017, no Interested Trustee Nominee or current Trustee beneficially owned more than 1% of the shares of any class of any Fund except as set forth in the table below:
|
Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned
|
|||||||||||
|
Interested Trustee
Nominee |
Current Independent Trustees(1)
|
||||||||||
Name of Fund and Share Class
|
Stephanie G.
Braming |
Kathleen T.
Barr |
Daniel N.
Leib |
Donald L.
Seeley |
||||||||
Small-Mid Cap Value Fund – Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
10.35
|
%
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
International Developed Plus Fund – Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1.00
|
%
|
|
—
|
|
Global Leaders Fund – Class I
|
|
1.1
|
%
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Low Duration Fund – Class N
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1.00
|
%
|
(1) | Richard W. Smirl, who was a Trustee as of December 31, 2017, resigned his position as Trustee and officer of the Trust effective January 2, 2018 and therefore is not included in this table. |
B-3
As of December 31, 2017, the current Trustees and officers as a group did not beneficially own more than 1% of the shares of any class of any Fund except as set forth in the table below:
|
Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned
by Current Trustees(1) and Officers as a Group |
||
Name of Fund and Share Class
|
Percent of Shares
|
||
Growth Fund – Class I
|
|
1.69
|
%
|
Large Cap Growth Fund – Class I
|
|
2.42
|
%
|
Mid Cap Growth Fund – Class I
|
|
4.25
|
%
|
Small-Mid Cap Value Fund – Class I
|
|
20.45
|
%
|
Small-Mid Cap Value Fund – Class N
|
|
10.35
|
%
|
Small Cap Growth Fund – Class I
|
|
2.02
|
%
|
Global Leaders Fund – Class I
|
|
10.24
|
%
|
Global Leaders Fund – Class N
|
|
5.17
|
%
|
International Leaders Fund – Class I
|
|
3.18
|
%
|
International Developed Plus Fund – Class I
|
|
6.36
|
%
|
International Developed Plus Fund – Class N
|
|
1.69
|
%
|
Emerging Markets Leaders Fund – Class I
|
|
3.04
|
%
|
Emerging Markets Growth Fund – Class I
|
|
1.22
|
%
|
Low Duration Fund – Class N
|
|
3.57
|
%
|
(1) | Richard W. Smirl, who was a Trustee as of December 31, 2017, resigned his position as Trustee and officer of the Trust effective January 2, 2018 and therefore is not included in this table. |
Trustees Holdings in Certain Affiliates of the Adviser
In addition to investing in the various Funds, Independent Trustees/Nominees may from time to time invest in limited partnerships that are managed by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser. The Independent Trustees/Nominees may also from time to time, invest in third party investment ventures in which affiliates and employees of the Adviser also invest. In addition, Messrs. Avedisian and Skelly employ the Adviser to manage assets that they control.
5% Owners
As of December 31, 2017, the persons listed in the table below are known to the Trust to be beneficial owners of 5% or more of a class of shares of a Fund as indicated below. Shareholders who have the power to vote a large percentage of shares (at least 25%) of a Fund can control a Fund and could determine the outcome of a shareholders meeting with respect to that Fund.
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Financial
200 Liberty Street One World Financial Center New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
5,199,965.05
|
|
|
18.76
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
5,338,137.72
|
|
|
19.26
|
%
|
CTC
FBO Texas Tuition Promise Fund 17605 Wright St Omaha, NE 68130-2033 |
|
5,869,428.92
|
|
|
21.18
|
%
|
B-4
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taynik and Co
c/o Investors Bank and Trust Co 200 Clarendon St FPG90 Boston Ma 02116-5021 |
|
216,435.96
|
|
|
6.33
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
528,154.73
|
|
|
15.44
|
%
|
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Attn: RS Fund Operations 1295 State St # C105 Springfield MA 01111-0001 |
|
608,478.26
|
|
|
17.79
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,485,813.31
|
|
|
43.45
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NFS LLC
FEBO State Street Bank Trust Co TTEE Various Retirement Plans 440 Mamaroneck Ave Harrison, NY 10528-2418 |
|
3,677,666.31
|
|
|
28.87
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
5,009,809.09
|
|
|
39.33
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
202,681.16
|
|
|
10.58
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
426,245.51
|
|
|
22.24
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,254,715.40
|
|
|
65.48
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MID CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NFS LLC FEBO FIIOC as Agent for
Qualified Employee Benefit Plans (401K) FINOPS-IC Funds 100 Magellan Way KW1C Covington, KY 41015-1987 |
|
424,941.53
|
|
|
6.88
|
%
|
B-5
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
Wells Fargo Bank NA TTEE FBO
Milwaukee County Deferred Comp c/o Fascore LLC 8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2 Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002 |
|
1,046,374.97
|
|
|
16.95
|
%
|
UBATCO & Co
FBO College Savings Group P.O. Box 82535 Lincoln, NE 68501-2535 |
|
1,392,297.14
|
|
|
22.55
|
%
|
ICMA Retirement Corporation
777 North Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-4240 |
|
1,544,041.65
|
|
|
25.01
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MID CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo Bank
FBO Various Retirement Plans 1525 West Wt Harris Blvd Charlotte, NC 28288-1076 |
|
43,641.02
|
|
|
7.61
|
%
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
70,187.18
|
|
|
12.25
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
80,781.72
|
|
|
14.09
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 2 Destiny Way Mailzone WF4C Westlake, TX 76262-8100 |
|
297,091.94
|
|
|
51.83
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL-MID CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, Ca 94105-1905 |
|
7,201,117.22
|
|
|
10.91
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
25,921,554.59
|
|
|
39.27
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL-MID CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Hancock Trust Company LLC
690 Canton St Suite 100 Westwood, MA 02090-2324 |
|
1,006,208.18
|
|
|
10.31
|
%
|
National Financial Svcs Corp
For Exclusive Benefit of Our Customers Russ Lennon 200 Liberty Street New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
3,022,536.47
|
|
|
30.96
|
%
|
B-6
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
3,782,863.47
|
|
|
38.75
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL-MID CAP VALUE FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
24,485.37
|
|
|
10.38
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
205,176.83
|
|
|
87.01
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL-MID CAP VALUE FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kathleen T Barr & William P Scanlon Jt Ten
c/o William Blair 150 North Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606 |
|
2,057.10
|
|
|
10.35
|
%
|
TD Ameritrade Inc. for the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients
P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
2,251.20
|
|
|
11.33
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
3,709.87
|
|
|
18.67
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
11,857.73
|
|
|
59.66
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Iowa Judicial Retirement System
State Capitol Building Room 114 Des Moines, IA 50319 |
|
603,817.26
|
|
|
5.21
|
%
|
Nationwide Trust Company FSB
FBO Participating Retirement Plans (NTC-Plns) c/o IPO Portfolio Accounting P.O. Box 182029 Columbus, OH 43218-2029 |
|
864,202.04
|
|
|
7.46
|
%
|
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC
Special Custody Acct For The Exclusive Benefit of Customers 2801 Market St Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 |
|
1,589,775.17
|
|
|
13.72
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,967,277.07
|
|
|
16.97
|
%
|
B-7
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
3,779,461.58
|
|
|
32.61
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reliance Trust Company
FBO LPL Holdings NQ P.O. Box 48529 Atlanta, GA 30362-1529 |
|
272,339.01
|
|
|
5.00
|
%
|
TD Ameritrade Inc. for the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients
P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
347,709.86
|
|
|
6.38
|
%
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
510,611.90
|
|
|
9.37
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
1,685,291.47
|
|
|
30.92
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,838,636.42
|
|
|
33.73
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
24,956,288.38
|
|
|
78.11
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matrix Trust Co as TTEE FBO
Meek Lumber Co Rp P.O. Box 52129 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2129 |
|
151,945.73
|
|
|
10.46
|
%
|
TIAA, FSB Cust/TTEE FBO
Retirement Plans for Which TIAA Acts as Recordkeeper Attn: Trust Operations 211 N Broadway Ste 1000 Saint Louis Mo 63102-2748 |
|
214,364.07
|
|
|
14.76
|
%
|
NFSC FEBO Our Customers
200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
393,000.40
|
|
|
27.07
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
397,226.01
|
|
|
27.36
|
%
|
B-8
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
GLOBAL LEADERS FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
1,332,927.40
|
|
|
32.33
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
2,420,390.42
|
|
|
58.70
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GLOBAL LEADERS FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
30,809.19
|
|
|
5.82
|
%
|
National Financial Svcs Corp
For Exclusive Benefit of Our Customers Russ Lennon 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
406,132.11
|
|
|
76.66
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GLOBAL LEADERS FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac & Co A/C
Attn: Mutual Fund Operations 500 Grant Street Room 151-1010 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2502 |
|
656,377.63
|
|
|
6.66
|
%
|
Northern Trust Co Custodian
FBO Modern Woodmen Retirement P.O. Box 92956 Chicago, IL 60675-2956 |
|
1,105,844.67
|
|
|
11.22
|
%
|
Mac & Co A/C
Attn: Mutual Fund Operations 500 Grant Street Room 151-1010 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2502 |
|
1,166,214.28
|
|
|
11.83
|
%
|
US Bank NA
FBO Meriter Pen-Wm Blair Global Gr Mt P.O. Box 1787 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 |
|
1,472,418.62
|
|
|
14.94
|
%
|
IUOE Local 30 Pension Fund
1616 Whitestone Expy Whitestone, NY 11357-3055 |
|
1,645,672.74
|
|
|
16.70
|
%
|
Wells Fargo Bank NA
FBO Citizens Energy Group Ret Plan P.O. Box 1533 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1533 |
|
1,748,887.14
|
|
|
17.75
|
%
|
Miami University Foundation
107 Roudebush Hall Oxford, OH 45056 |
|
1,897,865.29
|
|
|
19.26
|
%
|
B-9
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nobac & Co
P.O. Box 16450 Duluth, MN 55816-0450 |
|
291,300.76
|
|
|
7.95
|
%
|
UBS Wm USA
Omni Account M/F Spec Cdy A/C Eboc Ubsfsi 1000 Harbor Blvd Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 |
|
462,984.24
|
|
|
12.63
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
748,056.13
|
|
|
20.41
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,858,510.98
|
|
|
50.70
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
69,889.50
|
|
|
11.87
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
73,663.12
|
|
|
12.51
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
400,104.91
|
|
|
67.96
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEI Private Trust Co.
Attn: Mutual Funds Admin One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456-9989 |
|
1,091,789.16
|
|
|
5.81
|
%
|
Capinco C/O US Bank NA
P.O. Box 1787 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 |
|
1,204,126.16
|
|
|
6.41
|
%
|
Northern Tr Co
Cust FBO IUE P.O. Box 92956 Chicago, IL 60675-2956 |
|
1,389,258.55
|
|
|
7.39
|
%
|
National Automatic Sprinkler Industry Welfare Fund
8000 Corporate Dr Landover, MD 20785-2239 |
|
1,686,853.53
|
|
|
8.97
|
%
|
B-10
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
NFSC LLC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 5th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
1,736,288.54
|
|
|
9.24
|
%
|
Wells Fargo Bank NA
FBO Roofers Pension Funds P.O. Box 1533 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1533 |
|
2,073,379.52
|
|
|
11.03
|
%
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Custodian
4 Chase Metrotech Center, 6th Flr Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 |
|
2,392,765.33
|
|
|
12.73
|
%
|
Bank of America
FBO Cust Sealy & Smith FNP-WillBlair P.O. Box 843869 Dallas, TX 75284-3869 |
|
5,115,520.56
|
|
|
27.21
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPED PLUS FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strafe & Co
FBO Glamorgan Partners LP P.O. Box 6924 Newark, DE 19714-6924 |
|
562,532.32
|
|
|
8.02
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
874,304.44
|
|
|
12.47
|
%
|
National Financial Svcs Corp
For Exclusive Benefit Of Our Customers Russ Lennon 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
1,055,624.55
|
|
|
15.06
|
%
|
Mac & Co
Attn: Mutual Fund Ops 500 Grant Street Room 151-1010 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2502 |
|
3,747,659.68
|
|
|
53.46
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPED PLUS FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
19,283.26
|
|
|
9.95
|
%
|
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
19,612.54
|
|
|
10.12
|
%
|
LPL Financial
Omnibus Customer Account Attn: Mutual Fund Trading 4707 Executive Dr San Diego, CA 92121-3091 |
|
21,960.68
|
|
|
11.33
|
%
|
B-11
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
58,317.07
|
|
|
30.08
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
61,977.03
|
|
|
31.97
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INSTITUTIONAL INTERNATIONAL - DEVELOPED PLUS FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helen G Bonfils Foundation
1101 13th St Denver, CO 80204-5319 |
|
157,678.59
|
|
|
12.02
|
%
|
National Financial Services LLS
200 Liberty Street 1 World Fin Ctr Attn: Mutual Funds Dept 5th Fl New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
218,340.85
|
|
|
16.64
|
%
|
Comerica Bank
P.O. Box 75000 Mail Code 3446 Detroit, MI 48275-0001 |
|
935,642.45
|
|
|
71.73
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC
Special Custody Acct For the Exclusive Benefit of Customers 2801 Market St Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 |
|
5,596,328.77
|
|
|
7.33
|
%
|
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2, 3rd Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
|
12,232,239.61
|
|
|
16.02
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
19,064,972.74
|
|
|
24.97
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
20,536,043.45
|
|
|
26.90
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
7,975,683.85
|
|
|
31.68
|
%
|
NFSC FBO Our Customers
200 Liberty St One World Financial Center Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 5th Fl New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
14,324,307.42
|
|
|
56.89
|
%
|
B-12
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
INSTITUTIONAL INTERNATIONAL - GROWTH FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
7,488,311.43
|
|
|
5.78
|
%
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N. A. as Custodian
4 Chase Metrotech Center, 6th Flr Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 |
|
15,501,081.95
|
|
|
11.96
|
%
|
Great-West Trust Company LLC
Deseret Mutual Benefit 401K 8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2 Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002 |
|
17,179,326.83
|
|
|
13.25
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street One World Financial Center Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 5th Fl New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
19,933,480.63
|
|
|
15.37
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
1,685,627.34
|
|
|
7.78
|
%
|
MLPF&S for the Sole Benefit of Its Customers
Attn: Fund Administration 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 2nd Fl Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
|
2,332,176.66
|
|
|
10.77
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
3,751,365.10
|
|
|
17.32
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
8,764,687.62
|
|
|
40.47
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
66,821.26
|
|
|
16.35
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
241,959.17
|
|
|
59.19
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B-13
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo Bank NA
FBO Methodist Op-Cash & Passive Invest P.O. Box 1533 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1533 |
|
858,487.34
|
|
|
5.27
|
%
|
Wells Fargo Bank NA
FBO Peacehealth L/T - Mutual Funds P.O. Box 1533 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1533 |
|
988,799.79
|
|
|
6.06
|
%
|
Wells Fargo Bank NA
Methodist-Expense Account P.O. Box 1533 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1533 |
|
1,258,201.33
|
|
|
7.72
|
%
|
Capinco c/o US Bank NA
P.O. Box 1787 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 |
|
1,270,392.04
|
|
|
7.79
|
%
|
St Louis County Missouri
c/o Director Of Personnel 41 S Central Clayton, MO 63105-1719 |
|
1,809,675.18
|
|
|
11.10
|
%
|
Hancock Bank -
2285 Lakeshore Dr Bldg 4 New Orleans, LA 70122 |
|
2,113,131.98
|
|
|
12.96
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street One World Financial Center Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 5th Fl New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
4,230,764.49
|
|
|
25.95
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS LEADERS FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capinco
c/o US Bank NA P.O. Box 1787 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 |
|
443,575.43
|
|
|
10.33
|
%
|
NFSC FEBO Our Customers
499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
1,745,567.51
|
|
|
40.67
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,861,711.28
|
|
|
43.37
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS LEADERS FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
14,049.69
|
|
|
5.60
|
%
|
B-14
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
Reliance Trust Company
FBO Ifreedom Direct P.O. Box 48529 Atlanta, GA 30362-1529 |
|
14,473.19
|
|
|
5.76
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
42,842.48
|
|
|
17.06
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
129,317.06
|
|
|
51.51
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS LEADERS FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
University of Wyoming Foundation
222 S 22nd St Laramie, WY 82070-5204 |
|
2,262,503.60
|
|
|
5.87
|
%
|
Northern Tr Co Cust
FBO CTA Retirement Health Care P.O. Box 92956 Chicago, IL 60675-2956 |
|
2,275,878.06
|
|
|
5.91
|
%
|
SEI Private Trust Company
Attn: Mutual Fund Admin 1 Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456-9989 |
|
2,504,727.36
|
|
|
6.50
|
%
|
The Texas A&M University System-Endowment Fund
301 Tarrow St Fl 5th College Station, TX 77840-7896 |
|
4,214,289.80
|
|
|
10.94
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
5,768,220.34
|
|
|
14.97
|
%
|
The Texas A&M University System-Cash Concentration Pool
301 Tarrow St Fl 5th College Station, TX 77840-7896 |
|
15,717,641.24
|
|
|
40.79
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capinco c/o US Bank NA
P.O. Box 1787 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 |
|
449,353.55
|
|
|
5.68
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,169,618.64
|
|
|
14.79
|
%
|
Mitra & Co
c/o BMO Harris Bank NA Attn: MF 480 Pilgrim Way, Suite 1000 Green Bay, WI 54304-5280 |
|
1,490,553.19
|
|
|
18.84
|
%
|
B-15
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 2 Destiny Way Mailzone WF4C Westlake, TX 76262-8100 |
|
2,411,977.81
|
|
|
30.49
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
38,009.50
|
|
|
5.85
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
135,767.08
|
|
|
20.88
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 2 Destiny Way Mailzone WF4C Westlake, TX 76262-8100 |
|
139,526.81
|
|
|
21.46
|
%
|
Capinco c/o US Bank NA
P.O. Box 1787 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 |
|
169,200.15
|
|
|
26.02
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keybank NA
Char Int’L Equity Emer Mkt P.O. Box 94871 Cleveland, OH 44101-4871 |
|
4,315,650.07
|
|
|
6.04
|
%
|
The Northern Trust Company
FBO Tnt Ldn City of Milwaukee Empl Ret Sys Milwaukee Blair P.O. Box 92994 Chicago, IL 60675-0001 |
|
4,527,528.10
|
|
|
6.33
|
%
|
Prudential Bank & Trust FSB TTEE
New York Metro Transportation Authority 280 Trumbull St Hartford, CT 06103-3509 |
|
4,630,999.28
|
|
|
6.48
|
%
|
Comerica Bank FBO Mott Int Com
P.O. Box 75000 Mail Code 3446 Detroit, MI 48275-0001 |
|
4,656,406.61
|
|
|
6.51
|
%
|
Mac & Co
Attn: Mutual Fund Operations P.O. Box 3198 525 William Penn Place Pittsburgh, PA 15230-3198 |
|
7,178,257.83
|
|
|
10.04
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND – CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,553,081.81
|
|
|
10.31
|
%
|
B-16
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
UBS Wm USA
Omni Account M/F 1000 Harbor Blvd Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 |
|
4,312,747.17
|
|
|
28.64
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
6,489,165.84
|
|
|
43.09
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND – CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
97,130.25
|
|
|
12.04
|
%
|
UBS Wm USA
Omni Account M/F 1000 Harbor Blvd Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 |
|
106,536.85
|
|
|
13.20
|
%
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
139,616.65
|
|
|
17.30
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
165,925.40
|
|
|
20.56
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
189,546.96
|
|
|
23.49
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMERGING MARKETS SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEI Private Trust Company
c/o State Street Bank Attn: Mutual Fund Admin 1 Freedom Valley Dr Oaks, PA 19456-9989 |
|
584,175.50
|
|
|
6.57
|
%
|
The Northern Trust Co Custodian
FBO Fort Worth Employees Retirement P.O. Box 92956 Chicago, IL 60675-2956 |
|
762,994.21
|
|
|
8.58
|
%
|
Local 705 International Brotherhood of Teamsters Pension Fund
1645 W Jackson Blvd Ste 700 Chicago, IL 60612-3276 |
|
977,914.98
|
|
|
11.00
|
%
|
Laborers Pension Trust Fund
Detroit and Vicinity 700 Tower Dr Ste 300 Troy, MI 48098-2835 |
|
1,194,355.46
|
|
|
13.44
|
%
|
B-17
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
Northern Trust Company
FBO Mercy Health Inc. P.O. Box 92956 Chicago, IL 60675-2956 |
|
1,478,700.22
|
|
|
16.63
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
2,562,410.89
|
|
|
28.82
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BOND FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
2,260,065.29
|
|
|
6.05
|
%
|
TD Ameritrade Inc. for the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients
P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
4,644,545.16
|
|
|
12.43
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
10,686,781.22
|
|
|
28.59
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
13,498,810.66
|
|
|
36.11
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BOND FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients P.O. Box 2226 Omaha Ne 68103-2226 |
|
1,000,660.29
|
|
|
12.47
|
%
|
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plz Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 |
|
1,571,681.04
|
|
|
19.59
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
2,004,262.25
|
|
|
24.98
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 200 Liberty St One World Financial Center Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 5th Fl New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
3,318,904.10
|
|
|
41.36
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BOND FUND INSTITUTIONAL - CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keybank NA
Riviera Bch Fire-William Blair P.O. Box 94871 Cleveland, OH 44101-4871 |
|
915,746.60
|
|
|
10.33
|
%
|
B-18
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
Voya Institutional Trust Company
1 Orange Way Windsor, CT 06095-4773 |
|
1,212,620.83
|
|
|
13.68
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
2,217,084.22
|
|
|
25.01
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
4,197,871.72
|
|
|
47.35
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
342,945.43
|
|
|
5.66
|
%
|
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC
Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customers 2801 Market St Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 |
|
462,420.28
|
|
|
7.63
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
4,099,008.81
|
|
|
67.65
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 200 Liberty St One World Financial Center Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 5th Fl New York, NY 10281-1003 |
|
1,840,466.21
|
|
|
40.49
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
2,111,074.40
|
|
|
46.45
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOW DURATION FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,887,625.71
|
|
|
12.60
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
11,526,551.08
|
|
|
76.95
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B-19
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
LOW DURATION FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
91,973.89
|
|
|
41.47
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
101,952.57
|
|
|
45.97
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOW DURATION FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEI Private Trust Company
Attn: Mutual Fund Administrator 1 Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456-9989 |
|
2,082,720.11
|
|
|
18.62
|
%
|
National Financial Services LLC
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Customers Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
4,241,371.58
|
|
|
37.92
|
%
|
Northern Trust Co Cust
FBO Children Hospital Of Wisconsin P.O. Box 92956 Chicago, IL 60675-2956 |
|
4,849,290.64
|
|
|
43.35
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MACRO ALLOCATION FUND - CLASS I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
3,723,721.79
|
|
|
5.67
|
%
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
16,035,981.11
|
|
|
24.41
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
24,041,339.74
|
|
|
36.59
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MACRO ALLOCATION FUND - CLASS N
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients P.O. Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
|
300,148.55
|
|
|
8.54
|
%
|
NFSC
FBO Our Customers 200 Liberty Street 499 Washington Blvd Fl 5 Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010 |
|
975,893.60
|
|
|
27.78
|
%
|
B-20
Fund and Share Class Owned / Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Owned |
Percent of Class
Owned |
||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Attn: Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 |
|
1,642,041.61
|
|
|
46.75
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MACRO ALLOCATION FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mitra & Co
c/o BMO Harris Bank NA Attn: MF 480 Pilgrim Way Ste 1000 Green Bay, WI 54304-5280 |
|
2,212,947.03
|
|
|
5.40
|
%
|
Northern Tr Co Cust
FBO Plumbers Pension Fund Local P.O. Box 92995 Chicago, IL 60675-2995 |
|
2,568,753.36
|
|
|
6.27
|
%
|
Northern Trust as Custodian
FBO Bethesda Inc. P.O. Box 92956 Chicago, IL 60675-2994 |
|
2,910,109.04
|
|
|
7.11
|
%
|
Mac & Co
Attn: Mutual Fund Ops 500 Grant Street Room 151-1010 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2502 |
|
3,354,713.99
|
|
|
8.19
|
%
|
SEI Private Trust Company
c/o Regions Bank One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456-9989 |
|
4,763,797.42
|
|
|
11.63
|
%
|
NFSC
FEBO Our Customers 499 Washington Blvd Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 |
|
4,986,284.72
|
|
|
12.17
|
%
|
B-21